Attitudes of psychotherapists towards pharmacotherapy in the course of psychotherapy

• Main Authors: Sławomir Murawiec, Marcin Jacek Jabłoński, Krystyna Sosnowska, Wojciech Datka, Anna Król-Kuczkowska, Renata Moraczewska
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Medical Communications Sp. z o.o. 2017-06-01
• Series: Psychiatria i Psychologia Kliniczna
• Subjects: psychotherapy; pharmacotherapy; attitudes of psychotherapist
• Online Access: http://www.psychiatria.com.pl/index.php/wydawnictwa/2017-vol-17-no-2/attitudes-of-psychotherapists-towards-pharmacotherapy-in-the-course-of-psychotherapy?aid=664
• ISSN: 1644-6313; 2451-0645

Background: In contrast to the reality of clinical practice, in which psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy are frequently combined, the attitudes of psychotherapists towards the use of pharmacotherapy in conjunction with psychotherapy have to date been rarely studied. Method: A special questionnaire was designed for the purpose of the study. An electronic format allowing for anonymous online responses was sent to psychotherapists from two selected mental health institutions in Warsaw. The results were analysed statistically. Results: One hundred six psychotherapists returned a completed questionnaire. They were classified into three groups depending on the length of psychotherapeutic practice as well as into groups of  cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic/psychoanalytic and  systemic/integrative psychotherapists. Although cognitive-behavioural therapists do not treat more patients than therapists of other modalities, they encounter significantly more patients who receive medications (p = 0.001) and the number of their patients receiving combined treatment is  increasing during psychotherapy. The  highest knowledge of  drug names was reported in  the group of psychodynamic/psychoanalytic therapists. Integrative and systemic therapists more often declared their positive attitude towards combining psychotherapy with pharmacotherapy (Chi-squared test, χ2; p = 0.04). Psychotherapists declaring a neutral attitude towards pharmacotherapy – regardless of the therapeutic modality – had generally more patients in therapy than therapists by whom the use of drugs in the course of psychotherapy was perceived positively or negatively (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The use of medications in the course of psychotherapy is a result of an interplay between many factors, including patients’ preferences, psychotherapeutic modality and the age of a psychotherapist.